Event · Arts & crafts

The Nutcracker — Joffrey Ballet at the Lyric Opera House

When

Fri, Dec 4 · 7:00 PMDec 4 7pm; Dec 5 2pm & 7pm; Dec 6 1pm & 6pm; Dec 10, 11 7pm; Dec 12 2pm & 7pm; Dec 13 1pm & 6pm; Dec 16, 17 7pm; Dec 18, 19 2pm & 7pm; Dec 20 1pm & 6pm; Dec 22, 23 2pm & 7pm; Dec 24 2pm; Dec 26 2pm & 7pm; Dec 27 1pm.

Where

Lyric Opera House20 North Wacker Drive, Chicago, IL 60606Open in Google Maps ↗

Ages

Check age guidance

Cost

Ticket prices not printed on the schedule page

Organizer

The Joffrey Ballet

Upcoming dates: Fri, Dec 4 · Sat, Dec 5 · Sun, Dec 6 · Thu, Dec 10 · Fri, Dec 11 · Sat, Dec 12 · Sun, Dec 13 · Wed, Dec 16 · Thu, Dec 17 · Fri, Dec 18 · Sat, Dec 19 · Sun, Dec 20 · Tue, Dec 22 · Wed, Dec 23 · Thu, Dec 24 · Sat, Dec 26 · Sun, Dec 27

The Joffrey Ballet brings back Christopher Wheeldon's version of The Nutcracker, which moves the story to Chicago on the eve of the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition. Marie and her Nutcracker prince travel from a workers' Christmas party to the dreamlike fairgrounds, set to Tchaikovsky's full score, with toy soldiers, the Rat King, a snow scene, the Golden Statue, Venetian masked dancers and Chinese dragons. The run time is about two hours. Performances run December 4 to 27, 2026 at the Lyric Opera House, with 2 p.m. or 1 p.m. matinees on most weekend days and during the week before Christmas (December 18, 22, 23 and 24), which suit families with younger children. Tickets are sold per seat through the Joffrey's schedule page; the page does not print prices or a minimum age, so check both before buying.